Bristol Lake is located southeast of Amboy, California and U.S. Route 66, and is also south of Cadiz, California. Amboy Crater and the Bullion Mountains are to the west, and Old Woman Mountains to the east.

The lake is approximately 23 km (14 mi) long and 20 km (12 mi) at its widest point.[Dry Lake Bed; Rock outcroppings; telephone poles; Some private land mixed with BLM lands, vehicle access limited by weather conditions; ongoing salt operations.